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Wetland Bird Survey in Northants

Author: Linda Lofts

Published: 12th February 2017 19:56

Wetland Bird Survey in NorthantsMany of you will be keen birdwatchers and will probably have heard of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) – an important national survey in which once each month during the winter thousands of birdwatchers go out counting ducks, geese, waders and other wetland birds.

The survey is a good way of identifying important sites for water birds. Because it regularly counts more than 20,000 waterfowl, results from WeBS were instrumental in getting the Upper Nene Valley recognised as a Special Protection Area.

Counting all those birds in large areas like the Nene Valley or Pitsford Reservoir is a skilled and complex team task and from time-to-time gaps appear in the teams – gaps that you may possibly be able to fill. Alternatively perhaps you could take over the regular counting of smaller water bodies where there is less of a challenge and likely to be a restricted species list.

or example, there are lakes such as Caswell Lakes and areas such as Cosgrove Gravel Pits. These along with 11 other sites in the south of the county are currently vacant and in need of a regular counter. Could you help?

Anyone can take part in WeBS even beginners to birdwatching. Unlike many bird surveys you don’t have to know bird songs or calls to carry out WeBS counts – just the ability to identify common water birds.

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